Seattle-based Alaska Airlines topped a satisfaction ranking of traditional North American airlines for the seventh consecutive year, and a new rating of airline mileage plans, J.D. Power announced Wednesday. Overall satisfaction across airlines hit a record high.

J.D. Power measures passenger satisfaction based on, in order of importance: Cost and fees; in-flight services; boarding/deplaning/baggage; flight crew; aircraft; check-in; and reservation. Overall satisfaction among all North American airlines hit 712 on a 1,000-point scale -- up 17 points from last year.

"No doubt the airline industry is doing a better job of pleasing passengers, but there still is a lot of room for improvement," Rick Garlick, global travel and hospitality practice lead at J.D. Power, said in the report. "Satisfaction is improving, but it's a stretch to say passengers are truly happy."

There's still a big difference between traditional airlines, which scored 683 in overall satisfaction, and low-cost airlines, which scored 763, although the gap narrowed by 12 points from last year.

Alaska Airlines topped traditional carriers with a score of 737, up 20 points from last year. But it ranked below low-cost carriers JetBlue Airways (789, and tops in the ranking for the 10th consecutive year) and Southwest Airlines (778).

A big part of the overall industry improvement was a 24-point jump, to 642, in satisfaction with cost and fees. The share of passengers who feel checked-bag fees are reasonable rose from 37 percent last year to 44 percent in the latest report.

"It isn't that passengers are satisfied with fees, it's that they are simply less dissatisfied because they realize that fees have become a way of life with air travel," Garlick said. "Passengers are over the sticker shock of being charged more to fly, having to pay for checked bags, expedited security clearance, or for preferred seating."

Airlines are easing dissatisfaction with cost and fees by adding such services as easier check-in processes and on-board Wi-Fi, Garlick said.

Click through the gallery above for the complete ranking.

Alaska Airlines also topped a new J.D. Power ranking of customer satisfaction with airline loyalty/rewards programs.

The report measures satisfaction based on, in order of importance: Ease of redeeming points/miles; reward program terms; account maintenance/management; ease of earning points/miles; variety of benefits available; and customer service.

Alaska Airlines scored 757, rating particularly well in ease of redeeming points/miles and reward program terms.

"A key strength for Alaska Airlines is its partners program, which allows its members to earn points when flying one of its partner airlines or staying at one of its partner hotels," Garlick said in the news release. "While partner programs are not unique to Alaska Airlines, the carrier's vast partner networks allow its members to earn points through a number of airlines and hotels."

In a news release, Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden said: "I could not be more proud of our employees for delivering the level of service that we believe helped us receive our seventh straight J.D. Power award and top honors for our Mileage Plan. We're very honored by this recognition from our customers and remain committed to being the easiest airline to fly."

Just behind Alaska were programs at Southwest Airlines (731) and JetBlue Airlines (707).